Sheet assembly structure



Jan. 13, 1953 J. w. KICE ETAL 2,625,290

SHEET ASSEMBLY STRUCTURE I Filed Nov. 29, 1950 A TTORNEYS,

Patented Jan. 13, 1953 SHEET ASSEMBLY STRUCTURE Jack W. Kice and John M.Redmond, Jr., Wichita, Kans., assignors to The Coleman Company, Inc.,Wichita, Kans., a corporation of Kansas Application November 29, 1950,Serial No. 198,174

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a sheet assembly structure and method. Theinvention is particularly useful in the assembly of metal sheets to formboxes and containers, and is particularly adapted for the forming of afurnace bonnet or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a metal structure formed ofmetal sheets secured together in a novel manner and to a method forassembling such sheets. A further object is to provide a metal sheetstructure which can be brought together into a, sealed, united structurewhile employing a minimum of tools or securing devices and while alsogreatly reducing the labor ordinarily required for the assembly of metalsheets. A further object is to provide a novel method of sheet assemblyaccomplished through the employment of a minimum of tool means andwithout requiring securing attachments. Other specific objects andadvantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown in an illustrative embodiment by the accompanyingdrawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container orfurnace bonnet fabricated in accordance with our invention; Fig. 2, aperspective view of the various sheet parts shown in spaced-apartrelation and prior to their assembly; and Fig. 3, a detailed sectionalview, the section being taken as indicated at line 33 of Fig. 1.

In one embodiment of the invention, we provide a metal sheet with anedge portion doubled upon itself to provide a channel into which ispressed the edge of another sheet. We then punch or otherwise indent thedoubled edge portion of the first sheet and the enclosed edge of thesecond sheet so that there is formed nested indentations in the threesheet plies which thus lock the sheets firmly together. Any ordinarymetal punch may be employed. A punch having a lever secured to itshandle and operable to press a plunger against the assembled sheets, isefiective in forming the nested indentations. However, a single pointedinstrument may be forced against the three sheets while the same areheld in order to form the nested and locking indentations.

In the specific illustration given in Figs. 1 and 2, a bonnet structureis shown but it will be understood that the structure is applicable foruse as a container, or any other device into which sheet metal parts maybe assembled. In the illustration given, and as shown best in Fig. 2,the top sheet ID of the bonnet is provided on each edge with a portiondoubled upon itself to form a downwardly facing channel ll. Side sheets[2 are provided with plain edges adapted to be received within the sidechannels ll of the sheet l0. End sheets l3 are also provided and thesheets 13 have their ends doubled upon themselves to provide forwardlyor inwardly facing channels I4. Thus the end panels l3 have their upperedges received within the channels I I, while their doubled back endsprovide the channels l4 for receiving the ends of the side panels l2.

With the structure shown, the top panel I0 is united to the side panels12 and the end panels l3 by the introduction of the top edges of panelsI! and I3 within the channels ll of the top l0. At the same time, thesame panels I! and the end panels l3 are united by bringing the sideedges of the panels I2 into the U-shaped channels [4 of the end panels13.

With the parts assembled as described above, the edge wall portions Illaand lb enclosing the upper edge 12a of the side panel l2 are united byforming nested indentations [5, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. Theseindentations are formed by the use of a plunger actuated by aleverequipped punch or by any instrument pressed against the three edgesto form the interlocking indentation structure shown in Fig. 3.

Similarly, the side edges of panels 12 are secured to the enclosing ordoubled edges of panels [3 by forming indentations I5 therein.

In the above described manner, the sheets are thus assembled togetherexpeditiously and the interlocking indentations provide an extremlytight seal between the sheet parts. Such a tight seal is of greatimportance in the forming of a furnace bonnet in which heated air iscollected and passed under pressure through conduits that lead tooutlets in various parts of the building.

While in the foregoing specification we have set forth a singlestructure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating anembodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the details ofstructure so shown may be varied widely by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. A sheet metal bonnet, comprising a pair of end panels having edgeportions doubled upon themselves and extending rearwardly of said paneland providing inwardly facing channels, a pair of side panels havingstraight edges on all sides and with their end edges extending past saidend panels and within the channels thereof, said edge portions of thepanel being locked together by nested indentations in said edgeportions, and a top panel having spaced edge flanges doubled uponthemselves to form downwardly-facing portions extending rearwardly ofeach panel and' providing inwardly-facing channels, straight edged sidepanels having edges received-within the channels of said end panels, andatop panels having edge portions thereof doubleduDonthemselves to formU-shaped panels'xextendingi. above: said top panel with theopenings.thereofjacing.

downwardly and receiving the straight top edges of said side and endpanels, said U-shapedLchannels throughout the structure being providedwith nested indentations. aligned with indentations, in

the panel-edge portions received within saidchannels to formaninterlocking structurewhere.

by the completed. sheet, metal structure, is provided. with anoutwardlyeextending. reinforced. channel at each corner edge thereof and,at each,

top edge thereof.

3. A sheet metal container structure comprising a pairof endpanelshaving edge portions doubled upon themselvesrand extending rear.-wardly, of' said panel and providing inwardly,-

facing channels, a pair of side panels having straight edges at theirends and with said end edges extending past said end panels and withinthe channels thereof, said edge portions of the panel being lockedtogether by nesting the indentations in said edge portions, and aunitary top panel having spaced edge flanges doubled upon themselves: toform downwardly-facing Ui-shaped channelsreceivingjhetop edges of saidside and end panels, said U-shaped channels and thepanel edges receivedtherein being united by nested indentations in the U-shaped channelsand-panel edges received therein, whereby the completed sheet metalstructure is provided with on:ontwardly-extending, reinforced channel ateach.corner'edge-thereof and at each top edge thereof.

JACK W. KICE.

JOHN M. REDMOND, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of recordinthe file-ofthis; patent:

UNITEDZ STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 508,23"!- Pierce--. Nov: '7,1893 744305 Reno Nov; 1'7, 1903 757,282 Diers' Apr; 12, 1904 975,613Nystrom'et al Oct; 2, 193 i

